Water Pipe

ABSTRACT

A water pipe has a housing 2 into which a container 3 to be filled with a liquid medium and having at least one suction connection 5 and a heating chamber 4 connected with this serving as receptacle for a smoke medium and having an air inlet 6 are integrated. The heating chamber 4 has a receptacle 34 for a capsule 13 serving for the provision of a smoke medium.

The invention concerns a water pipe with a housing into which a tankthat is to be filled with a liquid medium and having at least onesuction connection and a heating chamber connected with this for holdinga smoke medium and fitted with an air inlet are integrated.

Water pipes of this type, which originate from the Orient and are alsoknown as shishas, have become increasingly popular in recent years as analternative to cigarettes, in particular among young people andadolescents. A water pipe has a container that is to be filled partlywith water or another liquid medium. Sucking on a mouthpiece leads tonegative pressure in this container. In addition, a smoke shaft projectsto an extent into the water having a head piece at the upper end to holdtobacco that is heated with coal on the upper side. The mixture of air,vapour and smoke particles that is generated through heating the tobaccois then inhaled by the smoker. It is obvious that heating with glowingcoal may lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, burns injuries or in extremecases even to fire breaking out. Because of manual filling, qualitativeequipping of the shishas that is also in conformity with the law is notguaranteed. For this reason, shishas that are familiar today should onlybe operated in the open air or in rooms with a guaranteed supply offresh air. In addition, shishas according to the state of the art arequite heavy and voluminous, must be put together from several parts andare inconvenient to transport in their individual parts. Their cleaningis complicated as well and frequently does not satisfy hygienestandards. Electronic shishas are familiar from U.S. Pat. No. 4,133,318or US 2012/0199572 with which some of the above-mentioned problems couldbe reduced but in a not yet satisfactory manner.

For this reason, the present invention approaches the task of creating awater pipe that is characterised through particular compactness and safeuse.

This task is solved in that the heating chamber has a receptacle for acapsule for holding a smoke medium.

This means that the conception for such a water pipe is completely new.It consists of a compact appliance with a tank-like container that is tobe filled with water or another liquid medium and having at least onesuction device through which the user draws in the mixture. There is aheating chamber for receiving a smoke medium, for example tobacco, thatis located at the opposite end of the housing and has an air inlet. Thisprinciple enables a completely new, simple, direct and genuine smokingfeeling thanks to compact modules and a particularly direct, effectiveand low loss connection between heating chamber and water tank.

In the end, the smoker draws in air at the mouthpiece, which isconnected to the lid of the water tank by a tube. Ambient air flows inthrough the air inlet at the end of the housing opposite to the watertank. Here, the air passes through the heater-type heatable chamber andthe smoke medium that is kept there and regulated to a temperature idealfor smoking. Because the heating chamber and the water tank areconnected, the mixture is then drawn into the container and finallydrawn in by the user through the water, the tube and the mouthpiece. Itis therefore particularly expedient that the heating chamber is situatedunderneath the container.

One significant advantage of the shisha according to the invention isits simple, quick and also hygienically advantageous ease of use. Forthis purpose, the invention provides that the heating chamber has areceptacle for a capsule intended to hold a smoke medium. A capsule isthereby inserted for example from below into the oven-type heatingchamber in which the smoke medium is heated up. Such capsules cancontain tobacco or non-tobacco smoke media in greatly differingvariants, for example as a solid, dry, fermented or moist medium with orwithout tar or nicotine, with differing intensity and flavours or withadditives. The capsule is simply inserted into the heating chamber andafter use can be just as easily removed without residue and disposed ofappropriately.

The medium in the capsule is heated naturally in the heating chamber,whereby one embodiment of the invention provides that a heating elementis used as the heating device in the heating chamber, preferably aheating spiral made from a flexible material, which is supplied withpower by the accumulator insulated from the housing.

As an alternative it is recommended that the heating element is designedadapted to the shape of a capsule, preferably a conical shape, which inaddition simplifies inserting and removing after use, in particular ifthe receptacle has a side wall tapering in the direction of thecontainer and surrounding the capsule or an opening on its side towardsthe container. The receptacle takes over the function of a type ofheating cover here. The heat input takes place advantageously in alateral direction to the direction of the smoke.

The fact that the receptacle is designed at the same time as a heatingelement for the capsule proves to be an advantage in that an assemblycan be saved. This receptacle forms as it were the external housing forthe capsule, corresponds with the latter after insertion into theheating chamber in such a way that an unrestricted extraction effect canbe achieved. Thanks to the design of the heating chamber in thissection, there is no possibility that smoke medium will penetrate intothe suction tube in the direction of the container.

It has already been said that the capsules are positioned in the heatingchamber. With respect to this there is a suggestion according to whichthe heating chamber can be closed by means of a base plate, whereby theair inlet is integrated into the heating chamber, either into the baseplate or the chamber wall. When the base plate, and therefore thechamber, is closed, the capsule according to the invention finds itsfunction position itself, i.e. the end position of an inserted, latchedor screwed-in base plate corresponds to the capsule in its functionposition, so that smoking can start.

A particularly suitable variant of the invention stipulates that, if thebase plate is removed, the capsule can be inserted into the heatingchamber from below. The capsule is then enclosed completely by theshisha's housing. This means that for the purpose of replacing the usedcartridges with smoke medium, the base plate is detached from theheating chamber; conceivable here is a connection by means of a thread,a latch, magnet, etc. The used cartridge is then removed from thechamber and replaced by one filled with new medium and the base plate isthen fixed in place again.

Put another way, the base plate is designed corresponding to a capsulefor holding a smoke medium in such a way that when the base plate isfixed, inserted, screwed or latched into the housing, the capsule takesup its function position in which the smoke medium can come into contactwith the drawn in air.

A particularly intensive heating effect can be achieved if anaccumulator that serves to supply the heating chamber with power isintegrated into the housing above the heating chamber. It is importantto heat up the lower chamber, and thus the smoke medium contained there,in an effective manner with the help of the accumulator and to maintainthe optimum smoke temperature.

The compactness and the high safety level when handling the shishaaccording to the invention is also achieved in that heating the smokemedium is not done by burning coal, as is the case with previously knownshishas. Instead, electronics are used, through which the heatdevelopment can be controlled naturally much more effectively, safelyand selectively. The suggestion according to which an electronic controlunit is positioned between the container or the heating chamber and theaccumulator is to be understood in this sense.

It is also conceivable that an electronic measuring, control and/orregulating unit is positioned between the container or the heatingchamber and the accumulator that serves to monitor, control and/orregulate the heating function in the heating chamber and the temperaturein the heating chamber. Therefore, if appropriate sensors are employed,the control unit can also influence the heating function in the bottomchamber, i.e. in the first place started and closed down and regulated.This is also associated with a completely new enjoyment factor whensmoking with the shisha, because input values such as the temperature inthe chamber, and thus in the end the quality of the tobacco product, canbe varied by the user and/or automatically through the control unit whengiven limit values are reached. Alternatively, or in supplement, it isconceivable that the control unit is used to switch the shisha on andoff and for standby switching. This means that automatism is possiblethrough the air flow. For example, a sensor can be used for monitoring,which then forwards the appropriate signals to the control unit.

A further embodiment of the invention provides that the water pipe isequipped with a communication interface, so that the control unit servescommunication with the user and/or external appliances, for example viaNFC or Bluetooth technology. Influence on the controller can then beexercised through an interface of this type via an external controlunit, for example a smartphone or a Tablet PC. This means it is possibleto draw up a user profile or to communicate the smoking experience, forexample via Facebook or other social media. Reordering tobacco capsulesin this way is also conceivable.

The connection between the water tank and the heating chamber isnecessary in order to draw the smoke medium through suction initiallyinto the heating chamber and then into or through the tank. The mostexpedient is an embodiment in which the heating chamber and thecontainer are connected by means of at least one suction tube. For thispurpose it is necessary that the suction tube passes through theaccumulator and/or the electronic control unit or that the suction tubeis led past the accumulator and/or control unit.

It is understood that in the housing according to the invention themixture is intended to stream or flow in one direction only, i.e.through the air inlet into the lower heating chamber and from therethrough the intake tube into the tank, in order to be inhaled therefinally by the smoker. For this reason, it is recommended that aunidirectional valve is provided between the suction tube and thecontainer that prevents the penetration of liquid medium from thecontainer into the suction tube.

An essential aspect of the invention is that air is drawn from outsideinto the heating chamber and the air then actually comes into contactwith the smoke medium provided in the capsules as intensively aspossible and with an optimum mixing together of air and smoke medium.For this purpose, a capsule must have one or more holes at least at oneend or even be perforated. The opening of the smaller upper hole isproduced expediently in that the suction tube serves at the same time asa mandrel, that is, when the capsule is inserted into the lower chamberthe suction tube penetrates into the capsule and in this way enables thesmoke medium to enter the suction tube and thus in the end the watertank and can be released there.

To simplify disposing of the waste water from the container and fillingit with fresh water it is planned that the container and the housing areconnected detachably, for example by means of a plug-in, a latched or amagnetic connector. This creates a modular structure with the componentscapsule, heating chamber, power/electronics, water tank, lid, tube andmouthpiece.

The invention is characterised in particular in that a water pipe orshisha is created that is noticeable through special compactness,safety, user-friendliness, easy cleaning and numerous possiblevariations. The user sucks air through an inlet on the underside of thehousing first of all into a heating chamber, in which the tobacco ornon-tobacco smoke medium is located, expediently in a capsule that is tobe inserted into the heating chamber like an oven. The capsule thereforelies in the air flow, which the user generates at the upper end of thehousing by breathing in, i.e. by creating negative pressure. At the sametime, the smoke medium is heated up in the capsule by means of a heatingmechanism supplied through an accumulator. From the heating chamber, ormore exactly from the capsule inserted there, the mixture of air andsmoke medium passes through a suction tube into the upper container,also to be referred to as water tank, where it passes through the waterand can then be inhaled via a suction device. The capsule for holdingthe medium is here an integral component of the heat and air stream withno loss of aroma with regard to the smoke medium. Thanks to itselectronic controller, the shisha according to the invention opens upcompletely new possibilities, because the heating processes can bemonitored, controlled and/or regulated. In any case, the air flow isdefined through the prefabricated openings/holes on the top andunderside, heating takes place preferably on the side surface in theheating chamber. The use of capsules creates further possibilities inthe form of variants for the smoke medium, its composition andintensity.

Further details and advantages of the subject of the invention can beseen in the following description of the associated drawing, in which anexample of a preferred embodiment is shown with the necessary detailsand individual parts. Respectively:

FIG. 1 Shows a side view of a water pipe,

FIG. 2 Shows a water pipe in an exploded view and

FIG. 3 in the longitudinal section,

FIG. 4 in a view at an angle from above and

FIG. 5 in a view at an angle from below.

FIG. 6 Shows an exploded view of a capsule,

FIG. 7 shows the capsule in the heating chamber,

FIG. 8 shows a cross-section of FIG. 9 and

FIG. 9 shows a top view of the capsule in the heating chamber.

FIG. 1 already makes the particular compactness of the water pipe 1clear with its lengthways housing 2 and the modular structure. Thecontainer 3 is closed above through the cover 15. A suction tube 28 isconnected with its integral end with the connecting pieces 5 as part ofthe cover 15 and is fitted at the other end with an interchangeablemouthpiece 16. The connection of several tubes 28, 29 is conceivable. Bymeans of a magnetic connector the mouthpiece 16 of the tube 28 can befixed detachably to the outer wall of the housing or the cover 15. Thewater level for the water in reserve in the container 3 is designated20, because only partial filling of the container 3 is expedient.Heating chamber and accumulator and control unit are concealed by acasing 27, which along with many other details characterises the designof a water pipe 1 of this type, among other things through the possibleimpression or engraving 26 for advertising purposes. The on and off andstandby switch for controlling the shisha is designated 32. Two capsuleswith perforations 33 holding smoke medium are indicated with 13, 13′.The air inlet in the form of several air slots 19 has the referencenumber 6.

In an exploded drawing, FIG. 2 then shows a shisha 1 according to theinvention. With the air inlet in the form of slits 19 indicated with thereference number 6 the user sucks air from outside into the heatingchamber 4, where smoke medium is kept in an exchangeable capsule 13. Aheating spiral 14 whose conical shape is adapted to that of the capsule13—or vice versa—is provided as heating medium in the lower chamber 4.An adapter disc that guarantees the correct fixing of the capsule 13 ismarked 25. The lower chamber 4 in the form of a small oven is connectedthrough the suction tube 11 with the container 3, which itself iscovered on the top by the cover 15 and has a connection 5 for a tube 28,29 with mouthpiece 16 at the other end. The walls of the container 3that serves as a tank consist preferably of acrylic glass. The cover 15,panelling 27 and heating chamber 4 or its walls consist preferably ofbrushed or sandblasted stainless steel, aluminium or ceramics. Theintake tube 11 guarantees that the mixture of air and smoke medium canpass from the lower chamber 4 into the container 3. An additional sealor separator is provided by means of a unidirectional valve 12, anO-ring 21 and a cover plate 22. The suction tube 11 is sealed by meansof Teflon discs 24, 23 on the one hand as against the lower chamber 4and on the other as against the accumulator 8 or its chamber 7. Ameasuring, regulating and/or control unit is shown with 9 that, forexample in interplay with a sensor, serves for monitoring, controllingand regulating the heating chamber 4. The capsule 13 for holding themedium here an integral component of the heat and air flow, by whichmeans the aroma of the smoke medium is retained in full.

In the longitudinal section FIG. 3 shows a shisha 1 according to theinvention, whose container 3 is filled with water up to the water level20. The unidirectional valve 12 that is integrated in the bottom of thecontainer 3 can be seen clearly here as well. In addition, thelongitudinal section shows the electrics shaft with the measuring,regulating and/or control unit 9 and the suction tube 11, with is led inthe middle through the accumulators 8 and finally ends in the heatingchamber 4. If a capsule is now inserted into the heating chamber 4, thesuction tube 11 penetrates into the capsule 13 with its lower end 18 andreleases the mixture. The capsule 13 is fixed in the heating chamber 4through the base plate 17, the air supply is guaranteed through the airslits 30 found in the heating chamber 4.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified representation of the housing 3 with the uppercontainer 3 for the water and the unidirectional valve 12 in thedirection of the suction tube 11.

In the drawing in FIG. 5 the focus is on the view of the housing 2 frombelow with the air slit 19 in the heating chamber 4 for sucking inambient air into the inside of the housing 2.

FIG. 6 shows a exploded representation of a capsule 13 with two endplates 36, 39 at the inlet 50 and outlet 51 respectively. The capsule 13has a taper 37 that passes into the front end plate 36. An aromaprotection foil 41 with a handle 43 serves to seal the holes 45 in theend plate 36 and must be removed directly before use. In supplement, thecapsule 13 comprises an additional aroma protection foil 40 with handle42 that corresponds to the rear end plate 39 and therefore to the holes46 etc. The collar 38 serves to fasten the aroma protection foil 40 andcapsule 13 in place.

As an alternative to FIG. 3, FIG. 7 shows a capsule 13 in the heatingchamber 4 of the smoking appliance that is otherwise not shown here. Theheatable receptacle 34 approx. 2 mm thick for the capsule 13 with itswall 35 has a taper 37; capsule 13 and receptacle 34 are formed tocorrespond with each other, capsule 13 sits firmly in the receptacle 34.Because the receptacle 34 ends on connection to the taper 37 or has anopening 52, an advantageous free space 48 remains for the extractionprocess.

This is also made clear in the section in accordance with FIG. 8 thatshows the opening 52 in the area of the receptacle 34. The base platefor sealing the heating chamber 4 has the number 17. A drill hole 47serves to lead power to the receptacle 34, which also serves as aheating element.

Finally, FIG. 9 illustrates the view from above onto the receptacle 34and the capsule 13 with its front end plate 36. This also illustratesthe centre 49 of connection plate 36, which has a particularly highnumber of holes, one of which is numbered 55 by way of an example, inorder to guarantee the intended optimal extraction without the risk thatsmoke medium could penetrate into the suction tube.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. Water pipe (1) with a housing (2), into which acontainer (3) to be filled with a liquid medium and having at least onesuction connection (5) and a heating chamber (4) connected with thisserving as receptacle for a smoke medium and having an air inlet (6) areintegrated whereas the heating chamber (4) has a receptacle (34)suitable for a capsule (13) for holding a smoke medium whereas thereceptacle (34) has a wall (35) surrounding the capsule (13) at the sideand an opening (52) on its side towards the container (3) and thereceptacle (34) is formed at the same time as heating element for thecapsule (13).
 15. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein theheating chamber (4) can be sealed with a base plate (17), whereby theair inlet (6, 19) is integrated into the heating chamber (4).
 16. Waterpipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the capsule (13) can beinserted into the heating chamber (4) from below when the base plate(17) is removed.
 17. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein thebase plate (17) is formed corresponding to a capsule (13) for holding asmoke medium, that the capsule (13) takes up its function position whenthe base plate (17) is fixed, screwed or inserted into the heatingchamber (4).
 18. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein anaccumulator (8) that serves to supply power to the heating chamber (4)is integrated in the housing (2) above the heating chamber (4). 19.Water pipe in accordance with claim 18, wherein an electronic measuring,controlling and/or regulating unit (9) is positioned between thecontainer (3) or the heating chamber (4) and the accumulator (8), whichserves to monitor, control and/or regulate the heating function in theheating chamber (4).
 20. Water pipe in accordance with claim 14, whereinthe water pipe (1) is fitted with a communication interface.
 21. Waterpipe in accordance with claim 14, wherein the container (3) and theheating chamber (4) are connected by at least one suction tube (11). 22.Water pipe in accordance with claim 21, wherein a unidirectional valve(12) that prevents penetration of liquid medium from the container (3)into the suction tube (11) is provided between suction tube (11) andcontainer (3).
 23. Water pipe in accordance with claim 21, wherein thesuction tube (11) serves at the same time as mandrel.
 24. Water pipe inaccordance with claim 14, wherein the container (3) and the housing (2)are connected detachably to each other.